Winter planning starts in people’s homes, not hospital corridors 

With the NHS Winter Plan 2026/27 published, ADASS Care and Health Co-Leads set out why focussing only on hospital capacity during the winter misses the opportunities to support people to remain well and independent at home.   

Every winter, attention turns to pressures on hospitals. Ambulance delays, emergency departments and bed capacity dominate headlines and planning discussions. 

These pressures are real. But if winter planning focuses only on hospitals, we risk missing the bigger picture. 

Winter pressures are felt across the entire health and care system. Adult social care, community services, primary care, mental health services, carers, housing and the voluntary sector all play a critical role in supporting people through the winter months. Effective winter planning must reflect that reality.  

The most sustainable way to manage winter pressures is not simply to create more capacity in hospitals. It is to help people stay well, independent and connected in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Prevention and early intervention must be at the heart of our response.  

Across the country, neighbourhood-based approaches are bringing services together around the needs of local people. When local authorities, health services, social care providers, housing and community organisations work as one system, they can identify risks earlier, coordinate support more effectively and prevent needs from escalating into crisis.  

For those who do need hospital care, what happens next matters just as much. 

We know that most people recover better in familiar surroundings. That is why Home First must remain a guiding principle throughout winter. Supporting people to return home safely and promptly, with the right support around them, is often the best outcome for individuals and the wider system alike.  

Strong intermediate care, reablement and rehabilitation services are also essential. These services help people regain independence, reduce unnecessary admissions and support timely discharge. They are fundamental to both winter resilience and long-term reform.  

There is always a temptation during periods of pressure to focus on immediate challenges. But winter planning should also be about building the health and care system we want for the future. 

A system centred on prevention; neighbourhood working and care closer to home does more than manage winter demand. It improves outcomes, promotes independence and creates greater resilience for the years ahead.  

As partners finalise their plans for winter, the key question is not simply how we create more hospital capacity. 

ADASS Care and Health Co-Leads are Nichola Thompson, Corporate Director of Adult Social Care & All Age Commissioning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Neil Bradley, Executive Director for Adults, Ageing & Wellbeing at Northumberland County Council and Kerrie Allward, Executive Director of Adult Social Care at Walsall Council.